The incident began when the officer went to check out an abandoned house, the subject of many complaints from neighbors, officer Garry Flot said. The officer saw several suspects at the house, he said.

The suspects ran.

The officer pursued one of them into a nearby yard. At that time, said Flot, "a pit bull latched onto the officer's foot."

In response, the officer fired his weapon, Flot said.

The dog's teeth penetrated the shoe; the officer suffered a minor injury to his foot, Flot said.

A bandage was placed on the officer at the scene. He was not taken to a hospital.